Conference on rolling out the implementation of the national SDGs action plan

(MPI) – On July 07th 2017, the MPI in coordination with United Nations in Vietnam and German Society for for International Cooperation (GIZ) organized the Conference on rolling out the implementation of the National SDGs Action Plan. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the National Council on Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement attended and had a speech at the Conference.

Participants of the Conference were Deputy Minister of the MPI Mr. Nguyen The Phuong, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Mr. Kamal Malhotra, German Ambassador in Vietnam Mr. Christian Berger, representatives of ministries, branches, members of the National Council on Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement, representatives from government agencies, international development agencies, embassies, NGOs and media press agencies.

Speaking at the Conference opening, Deputy Minister of the MPI Nguyen The Phuong said that National Action Plan to implement 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (NAP) was promulgated udder Decision No. 622/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister dated 10th May 2017 which specifies 17 sustainable development goals with 115 targets relevant to Vietnam until 2030, corresponding to global sustainable development goals adopted at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2015. It expresses the role of all related sides, including ministries, branches, localities, socio-political organizations, domestic and international ones… to directly contribute and carry out the SDGs of Vietnam by 2030.

In order to implement the NAP, Vietnam will focus on completing policy, ensuring legal framework to deploy the NAP for VSDGs; improving knowledge of all levels, sectors and society on VSDGs; developing human resource, especially high quality one; integrate VSDGs with policies and action plans of ministries, sectors and localities; mobilize financial resources to implement VSDGs.

Financial mobilization of Vietnam is very important against a backdrop of being a low middle income country, ODA and preferential loans are declining sharply. Besides domestic resources, Vietnam also needs assistances of international community to roll out VSDGs in general and focus on reducing inequality on income and life conditions, creating jobs, health, education, economic development and sustainable environment in particular.

Whole scene of the Conference. Photo: Minh Trang (MPI)

Representing the UN in Vietnam, the Resident Coordinator Mr. Kamal Malhotra emphasized: “The key message and purpose of the SDGs, ‘leave no one behind’ is at the core of Viet Nam’s response, and this cannot be achieved without engaging with and reaching out to the wider public through a ‘whole of nation’ approach in implementation and reporting – including Government, bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, Political, Professional and Mass Organizations and other groups representing the diverse interests of the Vietnamese people”. He also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment in cooperation with Vietnam to implement the National SDGs Action Plan, specifically through the One Strategic Plan 2017-2021 between the Government of Vietnam and the UN which was recently signed on 5th July.

On his part, Mr. Christian Berger, the German Ambassador to Vietnam, shares that the German Government has included the 2030 Agenda, the climate and energy policies in particular, among the key focus areas for its G20 presidency. He points out that this National Action Plan is “a key tool towards balancing economic growth, social inclusion and environment protection in Vietnam”, and emphasizes the strategic partnership between Germany and Vietnam, specifically in supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Vietnam in the framework of the GIZ Macroeconomic Reforms/Green Growth Programme of the Vietnam – German Cooperation, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Participants in the conference have been shared the content of the National Action Plan, as well as the orientation of implementing this Action Plan by representatives from several ministries. This is also an opportunity for participants to discuss the obstacles and challenges in implementation, to propose solutions to effectively implement National Action Plan, and to call for active involvement and collaboration mechanism for relevant domestic and international parties.

Addressing at the Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the National Council on Sustainable Development and Competitiveness Improvement emphasizes that sustainable development is the task of the whole Party, Government, line ministries and of each and every enterprises, individuals. Implementation of the National Action Plan would require clear allocation of roles and responsibilities and close cooperation between line ministries, between the Government and people, between Vietnam and other countries, other international agencies; and at the same time require enhanced transparency to ensure proper monitoring by all related parties. The Deputy Prime Minister also express his wish that Vietnam would continue to receive further supports from international organizations in taking opportunities and overcoming challenges to achieve its SDGs./.